I have to say, I'm quite excited to be entering into October. Fall is my favorite season and it seems like the height of it starts this month. At least here in Virginia anyway ;) The leaves are just starting to change and the air is cool and brisk. Yesterday Lydia and I sat under a big tree, played in the leaves and watched as they were falling around us for at least an hour. She'd squeal and say "Ooooh!" as they'd fall. It's safe to say her favorite season is fall too. We've been enjoying the outdoors as much as we can, it's just too nice not to be outside.
A lot has happened since our last post. Loren is staying really busy with moot court right now. All he has left is his second set of arguments on Saturday and then they determine who will advance to the final round. I'm really proud of him, the judges said he answered a particular question the best they had heard. He's working so hard right now and sometimes I wish I could do something to help. Trying to find a job for he summer has been harder than we thought. I think he's applied to all the firms in salt lake but we haven't heard anything yet. I know something will come so we'll just keep waiting. Aside from moot court Loren works on the Law Review. He has research and site checking assignments he must have done by certain deadlines. It's not the most exciting thing he's ever done. Actually it's rather boring but anything to help the resume, right? After the law review he has 4 classes that he's enjoying. With all of that, he still finds quality time for Lydia and I. We are so blessed to have him, he's the best daddy and hubby in the world.
This is one of Lydia's favorite park's. It's just a hop, skip and a jump away from our house.
She would have taken Loren down that slide all day if we'd let her.
Last Friday we went to the cadet parade. They do them every week and all of last year I wanted to go to one but somehow never did. It was quite the show with lots of marching, saluting, bagpipes and a band. Fun show! Lydia loved it too.
We had an awesome opportunity to visit Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's estate, last Sunday. Tickets are usually $25 per person but the law school was giving discounts for $5! Obviously it was hard to pass up. We were so excited to see this beautiful piece of history. Lydia had only slept 30 minutes total that day so we prayed she wouldn't have a meltdown in the house. She wouldn't dare after driving an hour to get there, right? We parked, set up the stroller, put all the food, water, toys and other objects of bribery we could think of in it only to find out we had to board a bus and drive half a mile to get to the actual estate. So we unloaded everything, folded up the stroller and awkwardly shoved our way on the bus. I think we took up four seats. It was then that I wished we would have just brought the Moby wrap, but alas, too late. When we arrived we made our way over to where they start the tours. The grounds were absolutely stunning. Flowers of all kinds lined the gardens and gigantic trees were sprawled all around. I wondered how it would be to actually live here and I couldn't imagine it. We were told under no conditions were we to eat or drink inside the house. Also, not touching of anything was allowed as most of the artifacts were there on loan from museums or were personal items. I started to sweat a little thinking of Lydia's rather big stroller accidently scraping the walls or the tires bumping into antique furniture. What were we thinking bringing it up here??
We walked with our tour guide up to the front of the house. A few other law students were with us as well as others, probably twenty in all. After he talked for a bit, he took us inside the home. I noticed he stared me down as I brought the stroller through the narrow, aged doorway. I was sweating bullets, praying we would get through unscathed. We did, and I felt quite victorious. The first room we entered was amazing- it was circular with all kinds of artifacts on the walls and staircase. The tour guide told us all sorts of amazing facts about Thomas Jefferson and the architecture of the home. I felt relieved that Lydia was quiet. I kept giving her toys, praying it would be enough to see us through for another 45 minutes. As we made our way into the next room, my hopes plummeted. She started to groan and squirm, obviously wanting to get out of the stroller. The next room was small and we were all squished together nicely. Lydia continued to groan and squirm and every time she did, the guide would stop mid-sentence and look at me. Obviously I was supposed to find some method, other than food, to keep this mobile toddler calm. Yeah right. Loren secretly handed me puffs and I quickly stuffed them in her mouth when the guide wasn't looking. Unfortunatly it wasn't working as her fussing increased. The guide, and now everyone else, was looking at me again. I quickly took her out and thought if I held her she would be satisfied. But no, she would not be satisfied till she had crawled all over this hallowed and very expensive floor. I felt like daggers were being thrown at me from the guide's eyes so I made my way to the door with a screaming Lydia in my arms. He happily showed me the way out. And that was the end of my tour :) Loren was stuck navigating an empty stroller through doorways and around furniture for the rest of it. Once I took Lydia out, I set her in a rock pile by some grass and she was as happy as a clam. I guess history can't hold a candle to rocks.
When Loren came out we walked around the grounds and saw Thomas Jefferson's grave. It was all so beautiful and we had a great time being together.
Loren trying to get Lydia to smile for the picture.
That's as good as it's going to get today :)
Our friend Brittany from the school who drove down with us.
Turnip cabbages??
I received a new calling! I'm now the relief society secretary. I'm actually really excited about it as I don't know many of the older sister's in the ward and I've been wanting to be more involved with them. It should be good times.
Lydia took her first steps yesterday! We were so excited and involved with her that we forgot to take a video! So I'll post pics of her birthday and a video of her walking this weekend. Our little princess is all grown up. She brings us so much joy, I just don't know how we'd live without her. Here's some updates on Lydia:
She can say: hi, bye, mommy, dad, nanna (which means food or hungry. Most of the time it really means I want a banana), "uff" for what a dog says and "oooo" for what a cow says.
She loves being chased by daddy. They pretend they're dogs and chase each other around till the skin is rubbed off their knees.
She's eating all the foods we eat now. She's not too sure about cow's milk yet but we're working on it. She likes most everything and isn't picky (yay!).
She loves to talk. She has her own little language and talks and talks to herself. Recently it's been while we're in the stroller. When we pass people sometimes she'll surprise them with a high pitched, "hi!"
She loves playing with her friend Adeline and isn't biting or slapping anymore- knock on wood. She's playing a lot better with kids now.
We love you and hope all is well! Till next time!
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